If you’ve ever shopped for paint colors before, you know just how tricky it can be to find a paint color that looks good not just on the swatch but also in your room in different lights. And exterior paint? Well, it’s even harder because there are more variables: weather, direction of the sun, foliage around the house, and on and on. But the good news is that there are still several great options for you out there! Let’s take a look at my favorite green exterior paint colors from Sherwin-Williams…
Sherwin-Williams Acacia Haze
If you’re looking for an exterior green option that leans cool-toned with blue undertones without looking like teal, SW Acacia Haze is a great option for you. Sherwin-Williams describes it as a medium green with a “cool, lazy Sunday vibe.” Relaxing, calming, but still warm and inviting. It also has a touch of gray in it, which keeps it feeling softer and more contemporary. Acacia Haze has a light reflective value (LRV) of 32, which in my opinion is the perfect LRV for an exterior green in a hot climate that won’t be too dark and absorb heat but also won’t look pastel in bright daylight. The higher the LRV, the more light the color reflects and the lighter it will appear. If you’re looking for a similar shade with less of a blue undertone, try SW Evergreen Fog.
Sherwin-Williams Retreat
If you like the idea of Acacia Haze but you’re looking for a darker, moodier shade, SW Retreat is your friend with an LRV of 21. This muted green also has blue and gray undertones, and Sherwin-Williams describes it as “the fresh feeling of mountain air.” Keep in mind that in more overcast light, Retreat does lean more gray. If you’re breaking away from neutrals but still want something subdued, this may be the perfect green for you. But if you want a green that always looks like green, you may want to try a more color with less of a gray undertone.
Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green
If you want a green that leans extra dark and moody—maybe for a rustic but modern cabin in the woods—SW Pewter Green with an LRV of 12 may be right for you. Sherwin-Williams seems to agree with me about the modern cabin idea because their description states that Pewter Green is a “cool green that complements natural elements like wood and metal.” This is a color that looks right at home with black trim, but like Retreat it has a tendency to lean more gray (or in this case, charcoal) in overcast lighting. If you’re looking for a similar LRV but warmer green, I recommend SW Rosemary, which has more of a true green look and won’t lean as gray when it’s cloudy.
Sherwin-Williams Cascade Green
If everything I’ve shown you so far has been too dark, I recommend that you check out SW Cascade Green. With an LRV of 43, this shade will appear much more like a pastel green, especially in bright daylight and even more so if you use an exterior paint with a higher sheen. Cascade Green is also part of Sherwin-Williams’ Historic Color collection, so if you’re painting an older home and want to stick to authentic colors, this could be a great option for you. Keep in mind that Cascade Green is not to be confused with SW Cascades, which is a very different shade of dark teal. So be careful of that when you order your paint.
Sherwin-Williams Green Earth
And finally, if you’re looking for more of a sage green with warmer undertones, SW Green Earth is exactly the color I would pick. And in fact, it’s almost identical to the color I did pick for my own home, Benjamin Moore Creekside Green (pictured above). The great thing about this medium green shade with an LRV of 31 is that it has a warmth to it that always makes it appear like a true green, no matter the light. But it still has gray undertones, which keeps it from looking garish or baby puke-y (if you know, you know).
But my favorite thing about this kind of green for an exterior has to be that it looks so good next to bright green foliage. I have several large pecan trees in my front yard, and their warm leaves clashed with every cooler-toned green I tested. But a muddy sage like BM Creekside Green on the bottom? Perfection.
I hope this guide is helpful to you in your exterior paint search! For more on my own exterior painting journey, check out How to Paint Old Peeling Wood Siding, or take a look at My Top 5 Green Exterior Paint Colors by Benjamin Moore.
